A Mommy Story

I spent good deal of this weekend as a Gamer Widow. For those who are uninitiated into the world of gaming, it means my husband spend a lot of time playing RPGs (role playing games), CCGs (collectible card games) and all other sorts of games at the Origins Gaming Convention. Origins is an annual gaming convention held right here in Columbus, and it draws people from all parts of the country to come partake in all things game related.

You’ll find your typical Magic: The Gathering players, your Warhammer miniatures players, your Pokemon card game players (generally under 15), and your LARP’ers (live action role playing – usually in fancy goth costumes). You’ll also see more mainstream folks who play in Monopoly and Scrabble tournaments.

This is probably the #1 geek gathering in Ohio. Now, I’ll admit my provisional geek status – I like going to the convention to try out new games, meet up with friends, and shop. But I’m not a hardcore gamer – I generally don’t pay a lot of attention to complicated game mechanics, and if the game requires me to know more than 6 or 7 rules, I’m too confused to play.

Mostly, I like to people watch, because this place guarantees there is some good people watching to be had. Some of the people you might meet:

The standard gamer – the slightly overweight 20-something probably still living in his parents’ basement, with his case of Mountain Dew, his backpack of gaming books, and his dice bag hanging off his belt. Shy around women, and lacks in social skills. He will never get a date until he stops trying to tell women about his awesome Level 15 mage elf character.

The Vampire LARP’er – If male, tall, lanky, dressed all in black. Probably has his hair dyed black. He’s goth and he wants you to know it. If female, dressed in a black and red leather corset, black miniskirt or see-thru long skirt, heavy makeup and black leather boots that go to mid-thigh. Boobs must be prominently displayed – this is how she distracts her opponents. Sometimes sporting fairy wings as well.

The junior player – These are the geeks in training. Generally under 12, dressed in jean shorts, Pokemon t-shirt, and ballcap, with a backpack larger than they are filled with Pokemon cards.

The hardcore CCG player – This guy has been on the Magic: The Gathering international tour of champions and actually made money from playing his game. He can always be spotted by the rolling suitcase that is with him at all times. It contains all of his best Magic cards, and he will never take his hand off of the suitcase. If you get too close, he will nervously position himself between you and the suitcase – after all, others have been mugged for their Magic cards, and he’s prepared to fight you to the death if need be.

Historical wargame player – Dressed in camo, of course, usually sporting a military haircut. Don’t speak to these people unless you are prepared for an hour and half explanation about why their miniature army is better than the person they just played, because they went the extra step to paint their miniatures in a researched shade of blue that is historically accurate. They will try to convince you that if they had been there, they could have won Custer’s Last Stand with their tactics.

The Cosplay gamer – Primarily female, these gamers like to show up in costume. These people have a high need for others to notice them, and they do it through outrageous costumes or, for the women at least, prominent display of boobs. The costumes may or may not have any resemblance to a real character from geekdom. You’ll see not only boys walking around in Starfleet uniforms, but also lots of fairies, superheroines, and Stormtroopers.

This is only a small sampling of the people you will see at these types of conventions. Oh, there’s cross-breeding going on as well, too, which always complicates the Field Guide to Geeks.

It was a fun weekend, but I’m glad it’s coming to an end. I will now have my husband back for a little while – after all, the GenCon gaming convention is only 38 days away in Indianapolis.

PS – Celebrity sighting of the weekend: William Hung! No geek convention would be complete without the ultimate geek, I guess. She bangs!